{"id":195,"date":"2014-09-29T23:06:54","date_gmt":"2014-09-30T03:06:54","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.christiancompositions.com\/blog\/?p=195"},"modified":"2014-09-29T23:06:54","modified_gmt":"2014-09-30T03:06:54","slug":"am-i-practically-an-atheist","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.christiancompositions.com\/blog\/am-i-practically-an-atheist\/","title":{"rendered":"Am I Practically An Atheist?"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"PRACTICALLY\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Several months ago, I had an opportunity to converse with a man who is an atheist.\u00a0 He is highly educated and very intelligent.\u00a0 It was a great challenge and privilege for me to share with him some of the reasons for my faith.\u00a0 It caused me to do some much deeper thinking than I am accustomed to as well!\u00a0 I was reminded of the verse that says we are to\u00a0\u201c\u2026be ready always to give every man a reason of the hope that lieth in you with meekness and fear.\u201d<\/p>\n

I have given a great deal of thought to\u00a0the opposing worldviews my atheist acquaintance and I hold, and I have wondered what causes a person to choose to be an atheist.\u00a0\u00a0 I firmly believe that every person is born with a knowledge of the existence of God, and a witness of Him through both conscience and creation; however, there are many things that can bring a person to the point of rejecting that knowledge.\u00a0\u00a0 Romans 1 speaks of those who \u201c\u2026.did not like to retain God in their knowledge\u2026.\u201d.\u00a0 There is no doubt this is an individual decision, but what influences one to make that decision?<\/p>\n

As I have studied the Bible, and read the thoughts of some who are atheists, I have been convicted in my own heart that I may be a contributing factor–perhaps not directly, certainly not intentionally, but maybe indirectly–by my failures as a believer.<\/p>\n

I am afraid that many of us who believe in God, even profess to know Him personally, yet live without the fear and love of God evident in our lives make it easy for unbelievers to remain convinced that there is no proof of a living God.<\/p>\n

Imagine a courtroom.\u00a0 Atheists, agnostics, and other unbelievers demand evidence and proof that God is real.\u00a0 My failures as a Christian will not be an excuse for unbelievers when they one day stand before the Righteous Judge.\u00a0 He says that they are \u201cwithout excuse\u201d (Rom. 1:20), and that if they do not believe in Jesus Christ they are \u201ccondemned already.\u201d (Jn. 3:18)<\/p>\n

However, right now, they are being offered a pardon for their sin.\u00a0 In order to receive that pardon, they must repent, believe, and by faith accept the One who offers it to them.\u00a0 We who claim to know Him in His reality, for who He is, are to be the witnesses to the life-changing power of the Gospel.\u00a0 Is it possible that we would be more convincing witnesses for the unbelievers than we are for Christ?<\/p>\n